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The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)

Jim Siegel, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

A state senator from Cincinnati wants to apply pressure to Cleveland Indians ownership to change the team's nickname and mascot, Chief Wahoo.

"The continuing use of the Indians nickname and a stereotypical Native American caricature, such as Chief Wahoo, is an affront to Native Americans," said Sen. Eric Kearney, a Democrat.

He introduced a resolution that would have the General Assembly encourage the team to "adopt a new nickname and a new mascot free of racial insensitivity."

Kearney also sent a letter to team owner Larry Dolan urging a change.

Cleveland adopted the Indians nickname in 1915 after operating under various names, including the Lake Shores and the Spiders.

The Indians have been slowly making Chief Wahoo less prominent, eliminating a 35-foot neon Wahoo sign that hung at old Cleveland Municipal Stadium and replacing the emblem with a capital "C" on some game hats.

Most of the nation's sports nickname attention has been focused on the Washington Redskins, where owner Daniel Snyder is resisting calls for the team to change a name deemed offensive to a number of Native Americans.

Kansas State’s Bramlage Coliseum is nicknamed the “Octagon of Doom” and claims to have the largest student section in the Big 12. Monday night, that section spilled onto the court in a doomsday scene for players, coaches and fans.

A recreational soccer player in Michigan who was charged with punching a referee and killing him during a game has agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors. Bassel Saad will serve eight to 15 years in prison as part of the deal and will plead either guilty or no contest to involuntary manslaughter, according to his lawyer, Cyril Hall.